Текст книги "The Fallen King"

Автор книги: T. A. Grey

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-four

A few days later

Abby fidgeted like a kid who’d just stolen a cookie behind his mom’s back. It was the nerves, they were driving her straight up the wall. But, what could she do about it? Nothing, she just had to deal. Ha, yeah. Deal. Today was only one of the biggest days of her life. She was being mated to Alrik by his brother Telal and she was meeting her half-sisters Chloe, Willow, and Lily for the first time.

They were all going to be there. Of course her mom would be there too. She’d already talked with her. Sure it’d taken a lot of explaining as to where she was, what all had happened, and why she was getting married. Yeah, that’d been a long story.

Abby started to breathe hard.

“Slow down. Just breathe in and out,” she told herself.

It didn’t help. She sat on her old bed, and put her face between her knees.

Maybe meeting her family so soon wasn’t such a good idea after all. And where was Alrik? He was supposed to be back already. He had to go back to his old castle to make “arrangements” for the ceremony. Now that the curse had been broken, he and his brother seemed to be making amends.

Everything would be fine. She had healed up well, and Alrik had healed up gorgeously. The man had been sexy before but now she’d have to beat women away.

Suddenly the energy changed in the room as if all the atoms came together in one spot then exploded. Alrik stood in her living room looking wonderful and alive. She still had a difficult time adjusting to the golden skin, auburn hair, and violet eyes but she had no complaints. He looked so...angelic now. Okay, maybe that was exaggerating it a bit. He looked like a rugged good demon now and not one bent on world domination.

His eyes caught hers and she raced down the hallway and jumped into his arms. He caught her easily.

His mouth narrowed in and landed on hers. The kiss quickly swept her up. It was eager, wet, and a bit heady. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back with just as much energy. It felt like they hadn’t been together in forever even though he’d left a few hours.

They’d both been recovering their energy for the better part of a week and neither had been able to be physically intimate, but now her blood spiked with arousal.

Apparently so did his because his tongue parted her lips with a sexy sweep and then dipped inside to lick her up. A ragged moan left her at the touch, and her hips rocked in response. He tasted delicious and felt so warm in her arms.

Yes, her body told her.

Strong hands walked down her spine to cup her ass. He held her like that with his hands kneading her through her jersey skirt as he walked with her. She didn’t care where he took her. She trusted him.

“I want you,” she whispered against his lips.

He tore his mouth away, his hot gaze colliding with hers. “We’re supposed to meet them for the ceremony in less than an hour.” He sounded pissed as if he wished he had hours with her instead. She had to agree.

Still…

She pressed her breasts against his chest. “An hour is more than enough time for us to both come...”

His hands clenched on her ass. She loved that little things she did could get some sort of a reaction out of him. His lungs expanded hard as he sucked in a sharp breath and then his mouth slammed down to hers.

Oh, yeeees!

Then they were walking backwards. Abby tightened her legs around his hips until her core lined up perfectly with the hard ridge tenting his pants. She rubbed herself against him and moaned. He rubbed her just right.

“Fuck,” he cursed.

Her back hit the wall in the hallway as if he couldn’t possibly make it all the way into the bedroom.

Hot lips and wet tongue kissed a path down her neck. An erotic shiver coursed through her body, pulling her nipples into hard points, making her sex dampen.

“I swear you wear these clothes just to torment me.” He tugged the strap of her spaghetti strap tank to the side then kissed over her shoulder, across her collarbone and worked his way down to her breast.

“It’s just a tank and skirt,” she panted. Where they were going to celebrate, it was supposed to be warm.

His hands slid under her skirt. His touch burned the back of her thighs as his fingers curled around her. With a hard tug, he spread her legs even further then thrust his hips up into her, rocking his hard cock against her. The jersey cotton of the skirt and her scrap of satin panties did absolutely nothing to stop her from feeling every hard inch of him and she thanked God for small wonders.

“Hold on to me,” he ordered.

She obeyed in an instant, ready to do anything so long as he continued to touch her. Her body was his to command, and he did so expertly.

Abby crossed her arms over his shoulders and held tight as he pushed her harder into the wall and braced her there so his hands could run free. He touched her everywhere. Long, strong fingers plumped and squeezed her ass, then ran a smoothing caress up her spine then back down. He ran circles over her hips, squeezed the curve of her waist where it met her hip. He touched her everywhere but where she wanted him.

Her mouth found his neck and sucked his warm skin into her mouth. “Alrik, hurry.” She arched her hips against him purposely sliding along his cock. Blazing need burned inside of her. She needed to be filled by him to feel him filling her in only ways he could.

A growl left him from deep in his chest. The sound tickled her nipples.

“It’s going to be hard,” he growled.

Her head fell back against the wall. “Oh thank God.”

He chuckled as his chin pushed down her top so her breast popped free and then his wet tongue circled her, and his teeth tugged. Each touch seemed to be directly tied to her clitoris and he knew it. Each little tug and pull felt like a seductive caress circling her wet bud.

His mouth opened wide and then he took her whole nipple into his mouth, sucking hard.

Hands moved between her thighs. Her breath caught in anticipation. Every muscle tightened in anticipation. She heard the hiss of his zipper and squirmed.

All the while, his cheeks hollowed as he sucked her nipple with that rough tongue, pulled on it with his soft lips. Her hands flew into his glorious hair to hold on.

“Yeees,” she whispered raggedly.

Finally, what felt like forever later, his hands cupped her hips. She eagerly snaked her legs around his now naked hips. Her undulating hips found his hard cock poised and ready for her, but just as she pushed against him, his hands tightened on her to keep her still. The damn satin of her panties blocked her from what she wanted. If she had to get creative to get him inside her then she would.

Abruptly, he released her nipple then gave her a wet, hungry kiss. They both breathed hard after that. He pulled back and her eyes were slow to open. Her mind felt dazed like she’d spun around really fast in a circle and was about to fall down. When she opened her eyes his violet ones stared at her with so much passion and love her heart skipped a beat.

“I love you, Abbigail.”

“I love you, too.”

Her voice broke as he grabbed her undies in a fist and tore them from her body. Then he drove into her.

He did exactly as he said he would. He took her hard. He was unforgiving in his powerful thrusts. Abby could only hold on to him as he took her higher and higher. His hard cock filled her over and again bumping and rubbing over parts of her that made her wild.

Their lips met and fought, tongues lashing. She loved it. She loved everything about it. From how his hands cupped her ass so tight, from the raw hunger shining in his eyes, to the uncontrollable way he took her that just screamed: I can’t get enough of you.

“One right now,” he said, his voice ragged as sandpaper.

Then he ducked to pull her nipple back into his mouth.

That was it. Her entire body started to tighten. The warmth started inside of her where his cock worked her then pulsed outward on one heaving wave as she shattered.

He plunged into her as she fell apart in his arms, shaking and trembling. He tore his mouth from her nipple. “So fucking hot,” he growled.

Then he slammed his mouth back to hers and pressed his fingers between her legs. She jerked.

“Alrik,” she moaned as an all new warmth grew inside her. He rubbed his fingers across her bud in slow but sure circles working her up as his hips slammed into her, shoving her back into the wall.

“I want another one.”

Her hands curled into his hair as her sex pulsed at his words. It was as if her pussy and his words were connected. He said something hot and then she responded in kind.

“Anything for you.”

His sexy mouth curved up into a grin. “Yeah, anything for me baby.”

Then he got serious between her legs and made her scream his name as she came. Only after she finished trembling in his arms did he thrust hard four more times, plant himself deep, and then jet inside of her.

“Don’t set me down, I can’t walk yet,” she mumbled against his shoulder.

His belly deep laughter sent her into a fit of giggles and then he kissed her.

* * *

They couldn’t stop smiling at each other like a bunch of love drunk fools.

“Are you ready then?” he asked.

“As I’ll ever be.”

He grabbed her hand, pulled her into his arms, and pressed his lips to hers. As he did, she felt the world shift and move as he ported them.

When she opened her eyes, they stood on a beach made of fine white sand. He’d asked her where she wanted to be mated at and all she could think of was the beach. Just like the beach where they’d spent their few days at, but with one stipulation. This beach had to be beautiful and hot.

She smiled up at him, unable to contain her excitement even as nerves ate at her stomach. Soon she’d meet her half-sisters and his brother and she’d be Mrs. Demuzi.

The water was such a light shade of blue it was nearly clear. The sky above mirrored the color with only a few puffy, cottony clouds in the sky.

“It’s perfect.”

His shoulders sagged. “Thank God.”

She laughed. “You were nervous?”

“As hell. I had to hope you’d like this.”

As if she wouldn’t be happy being mated with him nearly anywhere. She just wanted to be attached to him permanently forever and ever.

Just then, people started porting in.

A pretty brunette accompanied by a tall, imposing man with long black hair pulled back from his face came first. Her belly looked rounded with child. A man with short wavy hair, definitely a demon, stepped back from them. Only demons could port like that, or a witch with enough power, or a good spell and a solid location. It looked as though her sister had her very own demon ‘porter’.

A stunningly beautiful blonde woman carrying a toddler in her arms ported in next with two men. One, she could tell was a demon because he had long silvery hair, a straight aristocratic nose, and playful eyes.

“Thanks, Draven,” she said to him. He nodded, grinning.

“Any time I get to touch you is a good time.”

The woman rolled her eyes and the big man at her side growled. Abby’s eyes popped wide. That was a real animal’s growl. The man was a shapeshifter, she realized, and judging by the size of him, he had to be an alpha.

“I don’t think your mate would like to hear about that,” the woman retorted.

The demon named Draven winced. “Just a bit of teasing. Sorry, love, but no one actually stirs me like she does.”

Another couple ported in this time with no backup demon because the demon was attached to the petite woman with an arm around her waist and his tongue deep in her mouth. Abby sucked in a breath. The resemblance between him and Alrik was unmistakable. Well, except for the fact that he had beautiful cerulean blue hair and she had yet to see his eyes. But, his skin was that glorious golden color. The woman in his arms moaned softly then popped her eyes opened and they darted right at Abby.

A blush colored her cheeks and then she pushed at who had to be Telal until he groaned and let her go. “Later,” he whispered in promise.

According to Alrik, Lily was the youngest of the Bellum sisters and was mated to his brother Telal. Lily had a quick, happy smile on her face and a gorgeous pair of green eyes. Everyone came forward and behind the group, Abby watched her mom port in looking wobbly. She must have done it from a spell. Her mom spotted her and gave an excited wave. Abby couldn’t fight her excited grin and waved back.

Introductions were made all around.

Lily and Telal came up first. Abby held out her hand but Lily pushed it away and pulled her into a hard hug. “Sister,” she said.

Abby hugged her back, hesitantly. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lily curled an arm around her shoulder and turned her to face the others. “It’s our sister,” she said like a judge who just banged the gavel making a judgment.

The two women, Chloe and Willow, eyed her suspiciously. “She does look like us,” ceded the brown-haired one. “I’m Chloe by the way and this is my mate Tyrian. He’s all vampire,” she said like she won some great prize. The tall man started shaking his head. He looked strong like a warrior but held a command to his presence, and a wicked scar ran down the side of his cheek. Abby wouldn’t be surprised if this vampire led an army.

The blonde woman narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know...”

The strong, tanned, very good-looking shapeshifter at her side rested his hand at the back of her neck. A dominant touch. “Play nice, baby.” He looked like he was trying not to smile.

The woman rolled her eyes. “Fine she looks just like us. I’m Willow. I’d shake your hand but as you can see, Mary’s taking them up.”

The little bundle in her arms was named Mary after their mother. Abby didn’t need anyone to explain that to her. She’d already learned all about that from Alrik. Mary had been imprisoned in the demon’s dungeon for some twenty years and had missed out on her daughters being raised. Of course, if that hadn’t happened then Francis wouldn’t have met her mother and Abby wouldn’t be here. Naturally, Mary didn’t exactly want to be here for this, she was still adjusting to normal life again after being rescued by her daughters.

Alrik was ate up over it. Over a lot of stuff really. But that was his past, and Abby firmly believed it wasn’t his fault. It was the curse. They’d get through all the rough patches up the road together.

“Give her to me,” the big man at her side said. Willow passed the baby to him and he held it as if he did that sort of thing all the time. He didn’t look like the baby type, but he totally was. The man saw her gaze and smiled. He had a big smile, the kind that left you smiling back. “We’re trying for another one. I’m Lyonis by the way.”

“Abbigail Krenshaw.”

“Soon to be Demuzi,” Alrik corrected.

“Speaking of, shall we get this mating ritual started?” Telal said. He had a pleasant very deep voice.

“Yes!” Lily jumped in and started dragging her away. The other ladies followed as they broke away from the men and headed down the other side of the beach. “We’ll be back!”

Abby tossed one last, panicked look over her shoulder at Alrik. He was smiling at her. A wicked smile that curled her down to her toes. She was really doing this. She was really going to be mated.

She was taken into the forest and undressed in a circle of red and white candles. They said it was for “purifying and love.”

They were getting married in a demonic ceremony. That meant that her hands and feet were painted with a special tool called a lathu in special symbols and works. The paint was the color of chocolate. One sister held the bowl while Lily used the lathu to paint Abby’s feat.

A breathtaking pattern of leaves and trees were painted from her toes up across her feet. It wasn’t permanent though it was so beautiful she wouldn’t mind it being so.

The intricate design worked up her foot then around her ankles. Small spirals came off the stems of the design. Intermixed with the leaves and open flowers in bloom were demonic words of love, bonding, and mating. After her hands were also done in the flowering design, she was dressed in a black gauzy dress that kept her arms and below her knees bare. She was told this ritual would be done barefoot.

Nerves fluttered around in her belly like butterflies.

Before she knew it, she was lead back to him. He stood all the way on the other side of the beach. She wished he was closer she didn’t like having all these eyes on her. He looked amazing.

He’d changed.

Now he wore only a pair of fitted black trousers that stopped short of the knee and nothing else. All that beautiful golden skin was bared for the world to see. He didn’t smile but wore a strong expression—that of a warrior being given his woman. His hands and feet were painted in the same design of leaves, vines, and words.

Finally, his hand was in hers. She wanted to say something, wanted him to say anything but they both stayed quiet as the ceremony started. Everyone took a seat in the sand behind them, except for Telal who stood before them to perform the ceremony.

Abby squeezed Alrik’s hand and he squeezed it back, even harder. The nerves in her stomach abated at his touch and then she let out a deep breath. When she glanced back up at him, she saw a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth and she smiled back.

The ceremony took place in Demonish. Telal spoke of love and trust of faithfulness always. They were tender words. Words meant to be only spoken to one other person once in a lifetime.

Finally, Telal nodded to Alrik.

Then Alrik spoke. “I vow to always love you from now until the end of my days. Let these designs be a symbol of the ties that bind us together, of growth created out of trust, anger, friendship, and love. May these ties never break even after the paint washes away. May our love never sway against strife but grow stronger, and may they tie us closer for the rest of our days.”

Tears fell from her eyes. When it came time for her to repeat the words, she fumbled over them until a fierce blush covered her cheeks. It was okay because he smiled down at her as if he couldn’t be prouder.

Finally, she ended her part and her face was wet from tears and her cheeks bright red. “And may they tie us closer for the rest of our days.”

Their little gathering stood and cheered. Alrik pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss she would never forget. Not for the rest of her days.

“I love you, Alrik,” she said against his lips.

His arms squeezed her. “And I love you, Abbigail Demuzi.”

They clasped their painted hands together and started their life anew.